THIS is the time of year when I’m asked the same question by everyone from my father-in-law to my barber to the guy behind the liquor-store counter to the cop who stopped me for speeding the other night:

“How are the Jets going to bethis year?”

The following are four reasons why the Jets will not only make the playoffs but challenge for the AFC East title:

A healthier Vinny Testaverde plus new and improved receivers equal more touchdowns than interceptions in the passing game.

No, Matthew Hatchette hasn’t looked like Randy Moss or Cris Carter since the Jets acquired him as a free agent from Minnesota in the offseason. But he’s looked better than what the Jets had catching the ball last season – except, of course, Wayne Chrebet.

Add to Chrebet and the Hatchette acquisition much, much better second-year receivers Laveranues Coles and Windrell Hayes and you have a legitimate receiving corps with big-play potential – and that’s before No. 1 pick Santana Moss returns at midseason from his knee injury.

Coles has looked so good this summer that he actually staved off Hatchette for the starting job opposite Chrebet. Hatchette, a 6-foot-2 target, is the No. 3 receiver. Sure, Testaverde is going to be 38 in November. But he’s also another year removed from his ruptured Achilles’ tendon injury, a year removed from a questionable relationship with the former head coach and a year removed from throwing passes to Chrebet and a group of unproven receivers. All of these signs point toward a winning season for Testaverde.

John Abraham as a starting defensive end equals sacks and a feared pass rush.

Sure, Abraham needs help and he’ll certainly draw his share of double teams with opposing offensive coordinators scheming against him, but the Jets’ second-year pass rushing demon will break through enough on passing downs to become a defensive force.

Abraham had 4½ sacks in six games as a rookie last season. He already looks the part of a star this preseason, meaning a sack total well into double digits seems a lock.

Two newcomer running backs equal at least one or two more victories than 2000.

Enter rookie LaMont Jordan and Chad Morton, two completely different backs brought in for completely different reasons but all with an eye toward the same goal – winning.

Curtis Martin’s rushing totals in the Jets’ final three games last season – 11 yards, 52 yards and 47 yards – were alarming and as much a reason why the Jets lost those three games and failed to make the playoffs.

Jordan has shown himself this summer to be a significant potential help in spelling Martin of some carries in an effort to keep him fresh later in the season.

Herman Edwards and his positive energy equals players who want to win for him.

Edwards is a players’ coach, but he won’t be taken advantage of. Though he doesn’t rule with an iron fist, he has the respect of his players, because he’s a former player and he treats them with a different kind of respect.

It’s an intangible, but could be a major factor: Players are going to want to win for Edwards as much as they want to win for themselves. This head coach is that special.

An overall analysis of the Jets from last year to now is simple: Although they aren’t without weaknesses (see tight-end depth and interior defensive line) the Jets addressed their biggest problem areas from 2000 – better receivers, a new starting free safety, depth at running back and a dramatically improved kick return game.

Barring season-altering injuries, how can those improvements not show in the record?